Greenwich

Greenwich's population increased by about 40,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the decade to 2011, the population of Greenwich increased by 18.7%, from about 214,000 to 255,000.

The addition of just over 40,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Greenwich was home to, on average, 38 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Greenwich

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Greenwich decreased by one year, from 34 to 33 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than London and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 8,700 people between the ages of 30 and 39 years, while the population over the age of 80 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 18.0% of people in Greenwich are aged between 30 and 39 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Greenwich by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Greenwich

In 2011, 19.1% of Greenwich residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 11.1% in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 10.9% to 13.3%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 62.5% of people in Greenwich said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 77.1% in 2001. About 11.7% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 8.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 2.7% to 4.8%.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Greenwich increased by 8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Greenwich by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Greenwich that rented privately increased from 10.0% to 19.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (34.3%) households lived in social housing, compared with 39.2% in 2001. The percentage of Greenwich households that owned their home decreased from 48.7% to 43.3%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 15.3% in 2001 to 25.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Greenwich increased by 9.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Greenwich, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Greenwich

The percentage of Greenwich residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 5.7% to 5.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.5%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.1% in 2001. The percentage of Greenwich residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91.4%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Greenwich

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Greenwich was among those who said they had no religion, rising 6.4 points.

In 2011, 27.6% of respondents in Greenwich gave this religion on the census compared with 21.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.6%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 57.2% said they were Christian, compared with 67.8% in 2001. About 1.5% said they were Sikh, compared with 2.4% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 10.2% to 8.2%.

In Greenwich, 7.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 9.3% in 2001. In London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Greenwich increased by 6.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Greenwich by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people living alone

The percentage of one-person households fell in Greenwich, but at a slower rate than in Newham (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Greenwich).

In Greenwich, the proportion of one-person households decreased from 36.6% in 2001 to 32.0% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Newham decreased from 34.0% to 26.1%.

Across London, the share of one-person households decreased from 34.7% to 31.6%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Greenwich increased from 8.1% to 9.6%, while the percentage of households with a married couple increased from 25.9% to 26.6%.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across London

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Greenwich residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.4% to 5.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.1%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68.4% in 2001. The percentage of Greenwich residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.3% to 11.5%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Greenwich decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Greenwich, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children fell in Greenwich at a faster rate than in Lewisham (one of the most statistically similar areas to Greenwich based on ONS area classifications).

In Greenwich, the proportion of households without children decreased from 61.0% in 2001 to 57.3% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Lewisham decreased from 61.0% to 59.5%.

Across London, the share of households without children decreased from 62.4% to 59.8%.

The proportion of households with children in Greenwich increased from 30.2% to 33.6%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.8% to 9.1%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Greenwich residents that were studying increased from 3.4% to 5.2% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 49.8%, while the percentage of Greenwich residents that were unemployed increased from 5.4% to 6.2%.

The proportion of students increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 3.0% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students in Greenwich increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Greenwich, London and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

In Greenwich, the proportion of people working less than 16 hours increased from 1.9% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Lewisham increased from 1.9% to 3.4%.

Across London, the share of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased from 2.0% to 3.3%.

Long hour working in Greenwich fell from 11.9% to 10.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Greenwich increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Greenwich, London and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Relationships in Greenwich

The percentage of married people changed very little in Greenwich, while the proportion fell across England.

In Greenwich, the proportion of married people decreased from 39.9% in 2001 to 39.3% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England decreased from 50.6% to 46.6%.

Across London, the share of married people decreased from 41.7% to 40.3%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership in Greenwich increased from 39.3% to 43.4%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner decreased from 12.8% to 12.2%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Greenwich residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.0% to 2.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Greenwich remained close to 2.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Greenwich by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links